Meter bill



' -ivhich may be'arranged so. thattlie amount l Patented Apr. 6', 1926.I

UNITED STATESA ALFREDCOPONY, or MOUNT CLEMENS, MICHIGAN.

PATENT Norqrlcii.

METER BILIL.

Application led November 12.,` 1923.' Se'riaLNo. 674,297.

To all whom, 25 may concern i, y

Be it knownV that I, ALrnnDCoroNr, a citizen of theUnited StatesofAmerica, resid-V.

ing at Mount Clemens, in the county of Macomb and State of Michigamhaveinvented certain `new and useful Improvements in Meter Bills, of whichthe .following f a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings ,This invention relates to printed matter andrefers more particularly toform sheets'f and the like'that are designedfor use by.

companies dealingV in commodities that are i. measured by meters locatedon the customers premises.

An object of the invention is to provide a form sheet that is adaptedAto be used a meter readerof the company for rendering abillydirectlyvvto Lthe customer at'the time lthe meter is read so thatthe clerical worin and yexpense incident tothe usuall method of enteringthemeter reading zat thev main f office iand subsequent delivery of thebillrto the customer is Obviated.vv A y YAnotherobjectfis to provide aform sheet that preferably consists of several sections of money. duethe company, both with and without discount, and the discount date may,be recorded automatically when the meter reader designates the amount ofthe comiv modity used and the date of the meter reading.

- Another object is to provide a form sheetY 'i having placeson onesection that may-'be punched or marked by the meter readerv by fdesignating automatically on the other secfV i tions the house rating,anA error or overcharge and that the bill coversaperiod of..v

two months because the meter was inaccessible the preceding month. 1 ytAnother object is to provide a form sheet having sections which vthrough suitable sorting machinesafterbe# Y ing received by the mainoffice of the' comf-y pany for ascertaining thel total amount of ldiecommodity used by all its customers, the total amount of money inpayment therefor,

etc. 1 e Y e Vith the above and other objects in view, the inventionconsists of'eertain. novel `features 'of construction, combinationandarrangement of parts as will be more fully demay 'be *passedy.scribed and particularlypointed Vout inthe appendedclaims. g f

In the accompanying drawings; K e Figure 1 is a plan view of ya formsheet embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a view thereof when folded;

Figure 3j is a sectional view of the folded form sheet;

F igure'4`isaplan view of slightly modi?,

fied form .Figures 5 and 6 are plan viewsv of another modification; eFigure 7 is a plan view of arthird modi`r lic-ation.

Referringnow to the drawingsin which like characters of referencedesignatecorrespending` partsathroughout the several VVviews, thenumeral ldesignates a sheet that is preti. erably divided by spacedlines 2 and 3 respectively into three sections 4, 5 and 6 i'e-`spectively. Y. f i l 'Iheusection lis preferably provided at the upperleft hand corner withfa space 7 inwhiclris ypreferably printed the.words and 4Uaddress. Between ,the spaces 'Tand 8' is a space Qthat issuitably lined and marked Afor recording the successive. meter readingsvand the v,difference between the same,l the latter representing thequantity of the com- A Inspectors Checlrr, the name ofthe com-Q f pany,and numerals@representing the .cur-f rent-year, while .at theupper'right shandg corneris a space 8 for thecustomers name. *f

modity consumed Located below the spaces 7, 8 and9 respectively is atable'lO that is` in small spaces 11 that are-formed by'rinter- Theseformed by intersecting lines 15.l The spacesl 14 are preferably'arrangedin rows that are spaced apart to provide small areas 16 in whichthenamesof the months are printed.v` 1 The name of each month in thecalendar is preferably printed twice, once below four numeralsrepresenting vdays of that month and again below two numeralsrepresenting the remaining days of th'atmonth. Y The first ies twonumerals anc 30 in the top row 17 of the calendar represent days in themonth of August, while the remainingl numerals o, 10, 15 and 20,respectively represent days in the month of September.

The section 5 is preferably provided at the lower left hand corner witha space 18 in which is preferably printed the word Voucher, the name ofthe company and numerals representing the current year. To

the riht of this srace are twdsiaccs 19- scribed time, l preferablydivide the spaces 22 by printed lines 24. The numerals in the spacesabove the lines 24 represent the gross price to be paid, while thenumerals in the spaces 26 below the lines 24 represent the net amount,the latter being preferably a ten per cent reduction of the gross price.Suitable instructions are preferablyprinted' above the table 21, whileat the right of the table is a calendar 27 containing numerals inmultiples of fives representing` daysV of several months; numerals arepreferably arranged inv spaced rows 2S with the names of the monthsimmediately above the same. The words Biscount date are preferablyprinted above the calendar to indicate the numerals representing thelimit date for payment of the net price.

The section 6 is adapted to be folded on top of the section 5 and isprovided at the upper left hand corner with a space 29 in which isprinted the words @ustomers' bill, the name of the companybandf numeralsrepresenting` the current year. ln the upper rrghtv hand corner of thissection is a space 30111 which is printed the following: Base prices.

House rating in l. W, H. or less, 12e l. K., W. H., net price is gross;balance, 4c Pi K. 7. H., price less 10%; minimum, charge 50 gross, 45net.

A table 31 and acalendar are printed on the sectionV G below the spacesand and contain the same indications asthe table 21 and calendar 27respectively. However, this printing is in reverse order so that whenthe section 6 isv folded the printing thereon will register with theprinting on the section 5.V

rEhe tables 21 and` 31 and the. calendars 2? and4 32 are preferablyspaced' the same distance from the line 3, while the tables 10 rllheseand 21 and the calendars 13 and 27 are pref erably spaced the samedistance from thc line 2, consequently, proper registration of theprinting on the sections when folded is assured.

ln use, the meter reader of the company punches the folded sections ofthe sheet to indicate simultaneously the proper amount, dates, etc., oneach section. ln order that none of the printing on the three sectionswill be destroyed by the punching, l preferably provide a series ofcircles 38 that are printed on the section 4 at one end' of the spaces11 containing the numerals of the table 10 and that indicate the pointsto be punched. It will also be observed that the numerals of the tables21 and 31 are preferably printed at the left end of the spacesso thatthe opposite endr thereof will? be left blank toA receive the punchholes.

Located at the right ofy the calendar l-' on the section 4 is a space 34that is preferably divided by printed lines into small. areas in whichis preferably printed Punch here andI date when meter is inaccessibleand a circle 34 indicating the point to be punched; Punch excess billhere; and a circle 535- indicating the point to be punched, Punch here;and a ma-rk 36 4i-ndi'cating the point to be punched, At the topof thisarea is a small area 36 in which maybe written the amount of money duethe company when an error has been made on the stub or whenever thenumbers in the table 1()E are inadequate to' record the totalv amount ofthe commodity consumed by the customer.

Tre section fr' is provided with a space 37 which is also located attherig t ofthe calendar 2'? and whichv is divided by printed' lines 3S'intov small areas into which is printedf, 2 month bills are punchedhere, Vc"irvhen punched here pay amount below, and House rating. Thislast area is preferably di-videdbelow the sheet by printed lines Si)into small spaces into which isV printed the numerals 1S, 15, 12 and 9respectively,,while at the lower end ofthe space 8'? is a small area 40correspond-ing tothe area 86 onA the section 4.

The. section 6 is also provided with a space 41 that islocated at theright o-f the calendar 32 and that is proif'iced withprintingjcorrespondingto Vthe printingin the space 3T on the section 5except that it is ink reverse order. Thus, whenthe sections aife-.nldctthe printed mattei' in the spaces 41, 3'? and 34 will register.

lt is customary for companies dealing in commodities that are measuredby meters to decide upon what is termed a house rating for the premisesof its customers. This rat ing is usually determined by the con'ipa-n',vwhen the meter is installed and is used by the company in computineA allbills rendered to the customer. With the form sheet illuslib? liu

and has been designated on the inspector-s check by a printedspotvi thatfills the circle in the space in which theenunieral- 12'- of thistableis printed. In orderl that the house rating designated as 12 inthe tableon the inspectors check will be designated onthe voucher and customersbill, the circle 36 is located at a particular point in the Aspace 34 sothat when the folded sections are punched, punchz holes will be made inthe spaces in which the number-12 isprinted opposite-to thewoi'dsfI-Iouse rating on the sections 5 and 6 respectively. y y v Thecompany preferably fills in the name and address of the customer and thelast vmeter ieading before the formsheet is handed to the inspector sothat when the meteil is read the inspector writes the present meterreading in the space 9,011 the inspectors check and subtracts the lastreading therefrom to obtain the amount of the commodity consumed by thecustomer for that month.

The inspector' then folds the sections andy punches the circle 33opposite to the figure in the table 10 corresponding to the amount oflthe commodity- 'consumed so that the amount of money due the companywill be designated lby punch holes the tables 21 and 31 respectively onthe sections v5 and 6. The inspector. also punches the mark 36` so thatthe vproper houserating will'be desigf-V nated on the sections 5 and l6and punches the-proper numeral in the calendar-13 Vsothat the date ofthemeter reading willzbe ,properly recorded on'theinspectors check and sothat the discountdate willbe recorded infthe calendar 27 and 32respectively onthe sec- Lic i A the proper remittance to the company.

tions 5 andv A6. The inspector retains the section 4 andhands thesections 5 and 6 to the customer.- 'The section 6 yis preferablyretained bythe customer for future reference, while thesection 5 isforwarded with If the meter was inaccessible when the inspector called'the preceding month the customers premises, the circle 34 on the sec.-

tion l tis punc'hedby the meter reader to.

designate onthe sections and 6fthat-the present bill covers a period oftwo mont-hs'. Such a bill is made by the meter reader at the secondvisit who records in thespace 9 onthe inspectors check the total amountof the commodity consumed for the two months and punches the circle 33opposite to the numerals which indicate the total amount of thecommodity consumed. This punching records on the sections 5 and 6 theproper amount of money to bepaid to the company. If `desired thisamountmay be written in the areas 36, 40and 43 respectively onthesections 4, 5, and 6, The meter reader also punches the proper numeralin the calendar 13 'on the inspectors checkto designate the date of themeter reading.` This punching will also simultaneously designate theproper discountfdate on the voucher" 5 and customcrs bill 6.'Infadditioin the meter reader*- puiiches the circle 36 on the section 4so that t-lie proper house rating will be designated on the sections'and 6.

. VVlieIiever an error is made by the meter reader Yonr'tlie sheet orwhen 'the numbers in the tables 10 are'inadequateY to recoid the.

total amount of the commodity consumed by the customer, the circle 35 onthe inspectorsv check punched by the meter reader to indicate that thevcustomer should pay the vamount of money that is Vwritten in the areasL1-.0 and 43 respectively on the voucher and customers bill.` `Thisamount. isalso written inthe area 36 on the inspcctors check` for use bythe company.

In theniodiiication illustrated inl Figure 4- the form Vsheet 5() ispreferably provided with an inspectors check 51, a voucher 52'connectedA to the lower edge'of thecustomersv bill 53 and thatcorresponds to the voucher V52. This voucher 54 is adapted to be foldedbelow the customers bill 53 so that it will be punched simultaneouslywith the rother sections ofthe sheet. rl`hevvoucher lltogether with theinspectors 'check o1 Vare .retained by the meter reader for use by thecompany, l

While the voucher 52 and customers bill53Y are handed by the meterreader to the customer at-thetime the meter is read. Thus,

should thev customer lose or "misplace thev voucher '52 and bill 53`fthecompany will havefa lcomplete record thereof at 'their Oces'w y A In themodification illustrated in Figures 5and'6, I have shown a form sheetthat is provided on oney face thereof with an in spectors 'check 60,avoucher 61 and a cus-v ioo Y tomers bill 62 corresponding tothe section4, voucher 5fand bill 6 of the form sheet illustrated inFigiire landthat-is also provided onthe rear face thereof with a voucher 63containing :the same `indications as. the voucher 61. However, theprinting on the voucher 63 is in reverse order to the printing on Uthevoucher 61 and is preferably arranged' on the rear face of theinspectors check 6()vr so that when the latter' is punched a duplicateof Vthe bill handed to the customer will.

yposite'V to 18.,ii'nthe table 71,Aconsecpiently,y

the circle 7 5 on Vthe inspectors check indieating the point to beVpunched for designating the house rating 1S on the voucher 7 U and thecustomers bill 77 respectively, is located at a lower point. Thus, whenthe sections of the s heet are folded in superposed relation and thenumber 152 in the table 71 is punched, the amount of money due thecompany designated on the sections 7G and 77 will include the properamount of money for the house rating in kilowatt hours at 12 cents perkilowatt hour For example, the gross charge, $7.52 for 152 units,includes $2.16 to cover the house rating 1S at 12 cents per kilowatthour and to cover' the balance 15341 to a cents per kilowatt hour.

.Vith the form sheets described, the conipany may readily obtain thetotal amount of the commodity consumed by all its customers by merelypassing the separate sections of the form sheets through a suitablesorting machine. For instance, the inspectors checks could be passedthrough a` inachine having means for engaging the punch holes therein tosort the checks according to the indications designated such. as thehouse rating, the amount of commodity used, etc. Likewise, the voucherscould be sorted to obtain the total amount of money due or received bythe company.

that l claim as my invention is:

1. A form sheet of the class described comprising a-series of sectionsadapted to be folded in siiperposed relation, each section having atable thereon, said sections being adapted to be punched when folded todesignate certain numerals in each of said tables, and means on onesection for indicating points thereof to be punched wherebythe punchholes formed in the other -sections will be spaced from the numeralsdesignated.

2. A forni sheet of the class described comprising a series of sectionsadapted to be folded in superposed relation, each seetion havingsuitableindicia thereon for designating'the amount of commodity consumed and theamount of money due the company therefor, said sections being adapted tobe punched when folded for designating simultaneously the proper indiciaon all sections land one of said sections having punch hole locationsaccurately indicated thereon, whereby when said sections are sepan ratedthe punch holes therein may be engaged by mechanical. means forclassifying said sections.

S. A form sheet of the class described comprising a series of sectionsadapted to be folded in super-posed relation, one section lia-vingsuitable indicia for indicating the amount of the commodity consumed andthe date of the meter reading, and the other sections having suitableindica for indicating the amountof money due the company for thecommodity consumed and the discount date, and adapted to besimultaneously designated when the amount of the coinmodity consumedandthe date of the meter reading is designated.

4. A form sheet of the class described comprising a series of sectionsadapted to be folded in superposed relation, one section having a tablerepresenting amounts of the commodity consumed, the other sectionshavingl tables representing amounts of money due the company for thecommodity consumed, said sections bein-g adapted to be punched forindicating the proper amounts in said tables, and means on said sectionsfor registering amounts exceeding the tables'.

5. A form sheet of the class described comprising a series of sectionsadapted te be folded in superposed relation, one section having suitableindicia representing amounts of the commodity consumed, the othei`sections having suitable indicia representing amounts of money due thecompany for the commodity consumed, means on one section for i''stering' the inaccessibility of the meter, and means on the othersections for designating a two months bill when the inaccessibility ofthe meter is designated.

6. A form sheet of the class described comprising a series of sectionsadapted to be folded in superposed relation, each section havingsuitable indicia thereon for designating the amount of commodityconsumed and the amount of money due the company therefor, said sectionsbeing adapted to be punched when folded for designating simultaneouslythe proper indicia on all sections, and means for designating on onesection the points to be punched so that indicia on none of the sectionswill be destroyed.

7. A form sheet of the class described comprising a pluraltiy ofsections adapted to be folded in superposed relation, one section havinga table provided with quantity indications, certain of said indi-cationsrepresenting house ratings, means for designating a particular houserating on said section, the other section having cost indications andhouse rating indications, and means on the first section designating thepoint to be punched for indicating the proper house rating on the secondsection, the cost indications being arranged on the second section t0register with the quantity indications on tlie first section when saidsections are folded whereby punching of a particular quantity willsimultaneously punch the proper cost indication.

8. A .form sheet of the class described con'iprising a series ofsections adapted to be folded in superposed relation, one section havingquantity indications thereon and mea-ns for designating a house rating,the other sections having cost indications and house rating indicationsthereon, said secH tions being adapted to he punched by the i quantityindications whereby punching of one section for designating the point tobe meter reader when folded to designate cera particular quantity` onone section will tain of the indications thereon, and means on designateby punch holes the proper cost in- 10 dications on the other sections.

' punched for designating the properhouse Y In testimony whereof I aHXmy signarating on the other section, the cost indicaturef tion beingarranged to register With'sa'id ALFRED COPONY.

